At a parish and public meetings about local bus services, Laxfield's County Councillor Guy McGregor, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Roads, Transport and Planning, stated he would return to Laxfield on 28th March to speak to the Parish Council's AGM after looking into the provision of a regular scheduled service between Laxfield and Halesworth which had been demanded after the withdrawal of the county's support for the present service at a public meeting on March 10th 2011.
John Treadway, a resident of Laxfield and a volunteer driver with Halesworth Community Transport attended the AGM on Monday evening and supplied these notes:
John outlined the Handy Bus proposal and answered questions. Several people were concerned about the proposed subscription costs, none of which used the bus.
John has posted these notes in the village. Those wishing to comment or discuss the Handy Bus proposal can contact him.
John Treadway, a resident of Laxfield and a volunteer driver with Halesworth Community Transport attended the AGM on Monday evening and supplied these notes:
About 45 people attended the meeting. The bus services for Laxfield was the last item on the agenda. On Councillor McGregor's behalf, Neville Jephcote, the Passenger Transport Development Officer for Suffolk
1. There would be another DRT service probably starting in June with new bus possibly called the 'Hoxmere Hopper' which would cover an area from Hoxne, Stradbroke and Laxfield. The name and the service area has not been finalised.
2. He is aware that there is a problem with people from Laxfield having a regular timetabled access to Halesworth, the preferred shopping venue for many villagers (i.e. more essential services and shops than Framlingham).
3. He and Councillor McGregor are looking very urgently into finding some funding or some way to provide a one day a week bus to Halesworth ideally on a Wednesday which they know is market day. It would travel to Halesworth around 9.45 and return leave Halesworth about 12.15.
4. This bus would not cover either Beccles or Lowestoft as before.
5. Because no proposition for such a service has yet been given to or passed by the Traffic Commissioners, who control the issuing of bus routes, there will be no bus service to Halesworth from Wednesday 30 March. Travel to Halesworth will then have to be made through the DRT service.
6. Any further inforrmation will be provided as soon as the situation is clarified.
John outlined the Handy Bus proposal and answered questions. Several people were concerned about the proposed subscription costs, none of which used the bus.
Those people who once used the bus (such as the 15 who attended the meeting at the Royal Oak on the 8th March for example) were not there. Unfortunately almost all them were absent, so their views expressed last week were not heard. John previously rang some of them only to find that some had just gone on holiday or didn't want to come out after dark.
John has posted these notes in the village. Those wishing to comment or discuss the Handy Bus proposal can contact him.
John Treadway, Sycamore House, Laxfield 01986 798324 or johnatreadway@yahoo.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment